Regulatory Reform
Wisconsin’s Red Tape Reset
Wisconsin is one of the most overregulated states in the country.
Cutting Red Tape to Unleash Wisconsin’s Potential
Everyday life, work, and innovation in Wisconsin are bogged down by an outdated and bloated regulatory code. With over 165,000 restrictions on the books, Wisconsin ranks the 13th most regulated state in the country. Excessive red tape drives up costs, stifles economic growth, and limits opportunity for families, businesses, and communities.
The Wisconsin Red Tape Reset will streamline regulations, eliminate unnecessary rules, unleashing economic growth and creating a better future for Wisconsin.
Tracking Wisconsin’s Regulatory Burden Over Time
The tracker below shows the number of regulatory restrictions issued by each major state agency from 2020 to 2024.
A regulatory restriction is identified by the presence of certain terms within a regulation, including “shall,” “must,” “may not,” “required,” and “prohibited,” which are commonly used to impose legal obligations or limits.
Green cells indicate areas where the number of regulations has decreased significantly. Blue cells indicate a significant increase in regulations from year to year. If you click on an agency, you can also examine the growth in regulatory restrictions by each chapter of the administrative code.
Data source is QuantGov.org.
Latest in Regulatory Reform
- WILL Calls for “Red Tape Reset” In New Report Examining Wisconsin’s Regulatory Environment WILL released a new report making the case for much-needed regulatory reform in the state while also highlighting several solutions that were introduced in the Wisconsin legislature today. WILL partnered with regulatory policy expert Dr. Patrick A. McLaughlin – a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Pacific Legal Foundation – to produce the report.
- WILL Unveils Open Records Guide to Promote Transparent Government
New guide part of an ongoing effort provided to help citizens better understand and interact with government officials and hold them accountable. - Reforming the Governor’s Partial Veto: How Should It Be Done? To preserve the separation of powers and eliminate any ambiguity in the law, the legislature should strongly consider adopting a constitutional amendment.
Key Bills to Support
Our Regulatory Reform Work
WILL Unveils Open Records Guide to Promote Transparent Government
Reforming the Governor’s Partial Veto: How Should It Be Done?
Analysis: Evers 400 Year Veto
Open Government Protection Act Passes WI State Senate Unanimously
The Citizen’s Guide to the Wisconsin Administrative State
